Adjustable die square



J. RIMMEL ADJUSTABLE DIE SQUARE Filed May 11, 1953 m, Mm m i M May 18, 1954 miniii f 11 ml 47 za Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

w invention relates to an adjustable die square, and particularly to that type of square adapted to gauge the angle of inclination or taper of a conical die opening.

In manufacturing a blanking die, it is customary to form the die with a vertical hole or open ing which is cylindrical at its upper portion but which fans out a short distance below the upper die Surface to form a frusto-conical Wall. It is essential to the proper operation of the die that the angle of inclination or taper of this frustoconical Wall be that which is best suited for the type of blanking to be performed. Thus, for one type of blanking operation, the angle of inclination or taper should be, for example, one-fourth degree from the vertical, while for another type of operation the proper angle may be on and one-half degrees. Not only is it important that the angle be the one best adapted for the particular operation, but the frusto-conical wall of any given opening must be uniform regardless of the radial position or location at which a gauge reading istaken, Although presently knowndie squares are adapted to aid the machinist in manufacturing a blanking die of the type indicated,

such squares are not sufiiciently accurate to insure that the taper of the frusto-conical surface will be exact within the necessary limits, and are further deficient in that they may not be locked with sufficient rigidity at the proper setting for the die being formed.

In view of the above factors characterized in the field of die squares, it is an object of the present invention to. provide an adjustable die square constructed so that the pivotal mounting for the gauge arm may be made accurate within extremely close limits, and so that the gauge arm may fe effectively locked in any pivoted position without disturbing itssetting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a die Square embodying scale and clamping means for accurately positioning the gauge arm at a particular angularity relative to the body of the gauge, and constructed to facilitate sighting along the arm, after its engagement with the tapered die surface.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following specification and claims, considered in connection with the attached drawin to which they relate.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating the die square as employed in gauging the frustoconical opening in a die;

Figure,- 2 is a top plan view of the showing of Figurel;

Figure 3 is a vertical section alon line 3-3 of Figure 1 and as viewed in the direction of the arrows;

l Figured is a vertical section along line 4-4 of Figure 1;. t

Figure 5, is a horizontal section taken at line 5-5, of Figure l and illustrating the dowel means for aligning the clamping block and for pivotally mounting the gauge arm; and

Figure 6 is an, exploded perspective view showin the manner of mounting the clampin member and gauge armon the base block.

Referring to, the drawing, th die square is seen to comprise an elongated rectangular base block 50, a. clamping plate II mounted on the base block, and a. pivotally mounted gauge arm l2 extending transverse to the base. As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the lower edge of base block it is adapted to rest, on the upper surface 13 of the, die It being formed, the gauge arm l2 then extending downwardly into the, hole or opening, l5 in the die. The hole [5 is formed with a frusto-conical wall ii at its lower portion, the wall ll. normally merging with a cylindrical wall l8,v a short distance below the upper die surface.

The front face of base block [0 is shaped, relatively adjacent, one end of the block, with a vertical groove which permits, as best shown in Figure 2, the operator to sight along one edge of gauge arm l2. Groove 20 forms the inner boundary of a mounting face 2i (Figure 6) extending from the groove to the adjacent end of the block. In addition to the vertical groove 20, a pair of horizontal grooves 22 are provided on the front and rear portions of the block, remote from mounting face 21, to, facilitate manipulation of the die square by the operator.

The clamping plate I l is generally rectangular in shape and has, in general, the same edge dimensions as the mountin face 2| over which it is adapted to fit. The inner vertical edge of clamping plate ll, adjacent groove 25, is rectangularly cut out for approximately half the thickness of the plate and over a major portion of its width. A relatively thin portion 23 of clamping plate I I, is thus formedwhich, as shown in Figure 5, overhangs mounting face 2| and is spaced from it to define a vertical groove 24 adjacent groove 20. Thebottom of groove 24 is formed by the relatively thick portion 26 of the clamping member, this portion being adapted to '25 of clamping member II is provided at its center with a dowel hole 23 (Figure 6), and adjacent its ends with a pair of threaded holes 29- and 30 in vertical alignment with the dowel hole. The end portion of base block In is then provided with correspondingly located holes, none of which is threaded, and a dowel 3| inserted through hole 28 and the corresponding hole in the base block. A pair of Allen head screws 32 and 33 are then inserted through the base block holes and, respectively, into the threaded holes 29 and 3|], the heads of the screws being seated in suitable recesses in the base block as shown in Figure 4, The dowel 28 cooperates with a second dowel 34 in maintaining clamping plate H in a predetermined aligned condition relative to the base block |ll.,,., 'I'he,-dowel 34 is inserted, prior to the positioning of screws 32 and 33, through a hole 36 (Figure 3) in clamping plate portion 23, throughv a hole 31 in gauge arm I2, and into a corresponding base block hole. It will benoted upon reference to Figures 1 and 6 that dowels 3| and 34 extend perpendicularly of block Ill through its longitudinal axis. As viewed from the front, thedowels and screws form a T arrangement, with the screws 32 and 33 forming the arms of the T and the dowels 3| and 34 the stem.

The dowel 34 not only aids in the aligning of clamping plate II, but italso serves as the pivot for the gauge arm l2. The gauge arm comprises a downwardly extending thin straight blade portion 39 having a beveledouter'edge 4|] adapted toengage frusto-conical wall H, and a relatively wide flat mounting portion 4| disposed in vertical groove 24 and pivotally associated with dowel34, the latter extending through the hole 31. The corners of mounting portion 4!, opposite the blade 39, are cut off at 42 and 43 to provide clearance permitting substantial pivotal movement of the blade in groove 24. Such pivotal movement may be effectively prevented, however, upon tightening of screws 32 and 33,

the gauge arm mounting portion 4| being somewhat thicker than the width of groove 24 so that a clamping action results between face 2| and clamping plate The invention further provides means for accurately indicating the angle between gauge arm l2 and base block Ill. These means comprise a scale 45 provided on the upper edge 46 of clamping DQrtion 23, the edge 46 being cut away, arcuate, and .beveled for this purpose.

Markings 45 cooperate with a sharp indicator edge 4? formed between the angled-off corner 42 of the gauge arm, and the upper gauge arm end 48 which is arcuate to correspond to edge 46. The location of hole 31 through mounting portion 4| is such that edge 48 is spaced slightly above the scale 45, so that the'operator may clearly observe the position of indicator edge 41 with relation to the markings or scale 45. The scale 45 may read in half degrees, so that the angular-position of the gauge arm and the block may be determined with great accuracy. In addition, a vernier scale may be provided on edge 48 if desired. It will be noted that the scale portions of the present device are protected from damage in the event of dropping, etc., since they are primarily disposed in a recess or below the upper edge of block Ill.

It is a feature of the; invention that the dowels 3| and 34, and the holes adapted to receive them, i

dowel 34 and gauge arm l2.

are formed with extreme accuracy, the tolerance being on the order of .005 inch. A light press fit is efiected between the dowels and base l0, and a slip fit is efiected between the dowels and the elements H and I2.

The extremely accurate forming of dowels 3| and 34, and cooperating holes, has the twofold efiect of accurately locating clamping plate II with respect to base block l0, so that the scale 45 on the clamping plate will give true reading of the angular position of the gauge arm, and of preventing any shifting at the pivot between The use of dowels inthe manner indicated further assures that the markings 45 will give a true reading of the gauge arm position even when the screws 32 and 33 are relatively loose as is the case during pivoting of the arm.

In the" operation of the die square, let it be assumed that the hole l5 has previously been bored indie I4, and that it is desired to test whether the wall I? is inclined to the desired angle, The screws 32 and 33 are then loo'sened to permit free pivoting of gauge arm I2, and the gauge arm is pivoted on dowel 34 until edge 41 ,registers with the scale marking correspondto the desired inclination of wall |'|.v Screws signs 33 are then tightened to draw clamping plate against mounting face 2|, so that gauge arm portion4| is locked between clamping plate portion 123 and the base block. While the gauge arm is being locked at the desired position, there no tendency for the arm to be rotated since there is no shearing or pivoting force acting on gauge arm mounting portion 4|. It is then merely necessary for the operator to insert blade 39'of gauge arm |2 in the hole I5, as shown in Figure 1, and shift the base block I0 until beveled edge 40 is in engagement with wall H. The operator then sights, as shown in Figure 2, along edge 40 'to see whether any light appears between the blade and die, it being known that the 'ho'le |5 is perfectly formed when the full length of the blade engages die surface ll. During'thesighting operation, the vertical groove 25in block Ill permits the operator to better in spear, the meeting portions of blade 39 and wall I! for the presence of light, the edge 40 being disposed to overhang groove 20 as best shown in Figure 5.

If desired, the arm may be set at ninety degrees to the base, and the gauge employed as a right angled square.

' While the particular apparatus herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction ordesign herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:v

.1. An adjustable die square, comprising an elongated base block adapted to rest on the sur' faceof a die, a gauge arm pivotally mounted transversely of said base block and in flatwise engagement with one of its faces, a clamping plate disposed in flatwise engagement with the side of said gauge arm remote from said base block, said clamping plate having scale "means thereon for indication of the angle between said gaugej'arm and base block, a pair of dowels extending through apertures in said clamping plate and base blOQli to align said clamping plate rela-' tive to said base block, and separate means to draw said clamping plate toward said base block for clamping of said gauge arm in a given angular position.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said dowels is the pivot for said gauge arm.

3. An adjustable gauge for determining the taper of blanking die openings, which comprises an elongated rectangular base block adapted to rest edgewise on the surface of a die, said block having a transverse sighting groove relatively adjacent one end of its forward face, a clamping plate having a first portion adapted to rest on said one end of said forward face, and a second portion spaced from said forward face to form a mounting groove adjacent said sighting groove, a gauge arm having a flat wide portion disposed in said mounting groove and a thin straight portion extending transversely of said base block for insertion into a blanking die opening, one edge of said gauge arm being beveled and overhanging said sighting groove, a first dowel extending through said second clamping plate portion, said flat wide gauge arm portion and said base block to provide a pivotal mounting for said gauge arm, a second dowel extending through said first clamping plate portion and said base block, said second dowel cooperating with said first dowel in aligning said clamping plate relative to said base block, scale means on said clamping plate and gauge arm, and means to tighten said clamping plate into locking engagement with said base block.

4 The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein said tightening means comprises a pair of screws inserted through said base block and threaded into said first clamping plate portion on opposite sides of said second dowel.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein said scale means comprises a scale formed on one end of said second clamping plate portion, said one end being recessed back from the corresponding edge of said base block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

